[DoubleDeuce]

So I'm playing an online SNG. Its down to the final 5 or 6 players with blinds 100/200. The table had been pretty passive tight at this point and I was the clear chip leader...around $4000 I think. All the other stacks were between $1200-$2200. So everybody was playing pretty tight. A minimum raise preflop could win the blinds about every time.

So I'm in the small blind and pick up AK suited. Nice but I doubt I will be able to score more than the blinds with this one. Well guy from 2nd position raises to around $450. Ok I guess I'll see some action. Third guy calls. Interesting. Then the button calls. Wow.

I'm sittting on Big Slick just when the table is putting up a lot of action. What should I do?

I'd never been a situation quite like this at the tail end of a tourney.

Should I try to generate more cash by a min raise?

Should I play it tight and just call?

Should I push all-in and try to isolate as much as possible?

[PhilTheThrill14]

I would push and isolate. I would think a push will get you heads up with someone. You have everyone covered and are somewhat squezzing a couple of them here. They should fold unless they have a monster. And if they just called with a monster then they misplayed it.

Yup - I say push it. If someone else had pushed before it got to you, I may lay it down - not sure.

[99%evil]

With such a tight game, I'd guess your staring at some pocket pairs and possibly AX. The aggressive player in me says, push isolate those that are willing to gamble, hopefully worst case is a coin flip Q,Q and down. Maybe you'll get a guy with A,Q or worse to commit, then you're in the drivers seat.

[jojobinks]

i don't like the push. as the chip leader, i think i'm not quite ready to take a coin flip for half my stack.

with two callers in a tight game, someone's got a pair. and in a tight passive game, smoothcalling a monster is certainly possible. the first caller could be counting on a limp/reraise trap.

450 is only 10% of the stack. i think i just call and hope to flop tptk. if not it's an easy fold.

too tj cloutier of me? nah, he'd just fold PF.

[PhilTheThrill14]

I don't think you can just call. You need to see all 5 cards with AK and calling is pretty much throwing money away. I think calling may be worse than folding - not sure.

What's their M?

What's their Q?

[Pavel6969]

Someone must be sitting on a pocket pair, possibly two people are. I would put good money that at least one if not two of my aces are in their hands, and one or two kings is gone as well.

So, to me, it is really a push or fold. Flat calling really isn't a good move, unless you hit on the flop you are just giving money away. I would only do this if I was really worried about the other players at the table and wanted to try to catch something.

Folding an Ace/King is not going to happen unless you have such a good read that you know you are up agianst pocket Aces or Kings.

I'd have to push. 4 people in the pot now, no way all 3 of the other players are staying all in with the chip leader.

Chances are the highest pocket pair will call you if they have at least 10's or higher, and possibly someone else with big slick of even Ace/Queen suited will go as well. Anyone else who puts all their money in on a tight table with anything less than those hands deserves to lose their chips.

I think being chip leader actually makes this decision harder. If you weren't chip leader, Big Slick is an instapush in this situation. Being chipleader, you have to worry about losing half your stack and losing your lead. Being down in chips makes this so much easier.

I also would think about my chances of still winning should I go all-in and lose. You would still have an ok stack and could do some damage. If you think you are good enough to get the money back from the others at the table then go for it. If you think you won't be able to get it back, then you will have to think twice about it.

[DubleDex]

Based on your description of the game and how the remaining players were playing, you have to assume that you're beat by one, if not two, hands at this point. I'm guessing that you're facing at least two pocket pairs.

If you raise in your position, you can almost count on someone re-raising all in. Because they're bound to think you're bullying with your big stack. I'm guessing that with that many callers on the initial 450 bet, you'd get at least two people calling if you go all in. I don't like those odds, personally.

I would call. Then, regardless of flop, I would bet about half the pot (since you're on SB and first to act). If the flop came all low cards, and you bet big - someone thinks you hit your trips, and everyone folds. If the cards come big (even if you don't hit), then the low pocket pairs get out of the way. If you DO hit, then you get a caller (the guy who played his AJ and thinks his J kicker will be good!) and you're in a strong position.

Now, you act first and bet big and get RE-RAISED all in (and you didn't hit), you can still get out of this hand with much of your stack still in tact.

**edit** Thinking about this some more, if you bet half the pot here, you ARE putting everyone else all in if they decide to call. But I'm guessing that anyone who didn't hit won't call this. Even with a pair.

AK is a very good starting hand that can go bad very quickly. Especially with that many players who probably have solid starting hands.

[scottwire]

Originally Posted by DubleDex

Now, you act first and bet big and get RE-RAISED all in (and you didn't hit), you can still get out of this hand with much of your stack still in tact.

**edit** Thinking about this some more, if you bet half the pot here, you ARE putting everyone else all in if they decide to call. But I'm guessing that anyone who didn't hit won't call this. Even with a pair.

AK is a very good starting hand that can go bad very quickly. Especially with that many players who probably have solid starting hands.

If you bet half the pot on the flop, you've basically pot committed yourself anyway so folding is not an option at this point.

I'm with Jojo and just call. If everyone has been playing tight, more often than not you are going to be an underdog if/when someone calls. and i definitely don't want more than one of them to call. Especially with blinds at 100/200 a couple of them have probably already committed themselves to the pot.

AKs is a nice hand, but it is still only ace high.

[tomb1]

Call and see the flop. If you push, I don't think you will isolate much -- probably get 2 or 3 to call you, then you're risking half your stack on what could be a coin-flip.

I hesitate to disagree with Phil since he's obviously a terrific player the way he's been kickin ass on the Chiptalk tourney, but... I don't think you can assume for a minute that you have everyone covered or that one of the callers does not have a monster. They may be thinking that the earlier raise got the money out on the table and so now they can hide their monster and make lots more money later. Could easily be AA and maybe KK/QQ out there.

Lots of ways for Big Slick to lose, I'd rather wager 450 to see the flop, then make a decision based on much more information.

[PhilTheThrill14]

"I would call. Then, regardless of flop, I would bet about half the pot"

Just push pre-flop instead. Easier.